Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimeline of CS History***Images stored in O://Dev_Ser/Lauren/HPC/Timeline/Images Timeline of College Station History 1860 The State of Texas accepted 180,000 acres of federal land for the endowment of a land grant institution in 1866. 1870 On April 17, 1871, the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas was officially established. Harvey Mitchell, J. Frederick Cox, and Rebecca and Nelson Rector sold a tract of land to the A&M College to secure its location four miles south of Bryan, Texas, on the highest summit in the region. The transaction took place on June 21, 1871. Old Main, the college's first building, was completed in January of 1875. 1880 College Station's first railroad depot was constructed when the Houston and Texas Central lines began making regularly scheduled stops near the college campus in 1883. The arrival of immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe in the late 1870's and early 1880's brought the development of many small farming communities throughout Brazos County. The community of Shiloh developed approximately two miles south of the Texas A&M College Campus. The community consisted primarily of Czech immigrants, but families from Poland and Germany also joined this early community. 1890 Except for a general store and a post office, little or no additional developments occurred in the areas surrounding the college campus prior to the turn of the century. 1900 Transportation Nearly all A&M faculty and employees resided on campus with a few residing in Bryan. Transportation to Bryan was difficult at best. Passenger trains passed through the area frequently and on schedule. However, depending on them for regular work schedules was unsatisfactory. Only buggies, horseback, bicycles, and walking remained because roads and automobiles were still in the future. 1910 Transportation An interurban railway using a small gasoline powered rail car dubbed the "Toonerville Trolley" was constructed to cover the five miles between Bryan and the A&M campus. This railway helped solve the transportation problem and allowed faculty and employees to live in Bryan and commute daily to their work. More than four hundred students awaited the landing of the first airplane at Texas A&M. Aviator Robert G. Fowler flew his Wright Flyer onto Kyle Field on December 1, 1911. Religion The YMCA building was constructed on campus and served as a social center through most of the 1940's for the entire community. Many of the community churches had their beginnings in the YMCA building, which served as a temporary meeting place for various congregations. 1920 Transportation Suitable roads had been constructed by the mid-twenties, and automobiles had gained their popularity following World War I. In addition, a private bus system transported passengers between Bryan and the college campus, causing the interurban railway to fall into disuse by 1927. Residential The first off-campus residential area, College Park, was developed just south of the campus by a group of five faculty members who organized the Southside Development Company. They purchased 85 acres of land from the Ed Hrdlicka family and designed a system of streets and residential lots surrounding a small lake. Each lot was sold with the understanding that the purchaser was to build on it within three years. The development was successful, helping to relieve the housing problem of the growing college community. Education A school building was constructed on campus and opened on September 28, 1920 to educate the children of faculty and College employees. Created under a program for teacher education within the College curriculum, the school grew as small schools in the surrounding area were consolidated and included within the on-campus school facility. Religion Several local churches, including the Baptists, Methodists, and Catholics, had their beginnings in facilities constructed behind the small business area at Northgate. For example, St. Mary's Chapel for Catholic Aggies was constructed in 1926 by Father Gleissner on what would become the corner of University Drive and Nagle Street. Before construction of their own facilities, some congregations met in campus buildings. The Presbyterians continued to meet in the chapel of the campus YMCA building until 1941. Commerce During the late 1920's and early 1930's, the small business area at Northgate expanded to include two grocery stores and two pharmacies (called drug stores at the time). Prior to this time, there was a grocery store on campus as well as a gasoline service station. 1930 Transportation The construction of Highway 6 along the east side of campus had great effects on the development of the surrounding area. Prior to this time, the main entrance of the campus faced west toward the railroad tracks and Wellborn Road. Wellborn Road had been the main highway from Bryan through College Station travelling south to Navasota and Houston. The new Highway 6 soon became the main artery from Bryan southward to Navasota, and construction on campus reflected this change. The College embarked on a sizeable building program on the eastern part of campus, and the campus plan accommodated a new entrance to campus, which was constructed to face east toward the new highway. Residential Hershel Burgess developed the second off-campus residential area, known as the South Oakwood Addition, in the early 1930's. Oakwood was an eighty-acre parcel of land east of and joining College Park. Oakwood developed quickly, with new homes constructed by faculty members. In the late 1930's, J.C. Culpepper commenced development of College Hills Estates on the east side of the new Highway 6 just across from the new main entrance into campus. The College had decided rid itself of the on-campus housing business by the late 1930's and ordered all but a few of the occupants to vacate their homes and move off-campus by 1941. These evicted campus residents flowed into the three off-campus residential developments. Not only did the residents vacate the campus houses, but also many of the houses themselves were purchased and relocated in the off-campus neighborhoods. Many of these well-built, Victorian homes still can be seen within three first three residential areas. Religion Construction began on the A&M Church of Christ in 1935 as the congregation looked for an off-campus location. The brick building, designed after the New England meeting houses of Pilgrim times, joined its Christian neighbors along Church Street in Northgate. Commerce In order to accommodate the growing residential areas, two small shopping centers were developed in the latter 1930's. One was situated at the entrance of the College Hills area east of Highway 6 and near the new main entrance of campus, and the other was created west of College Park and just south of campus. North Gate continued to grow, and students and faculty frequented the barbershops, cleaners, military supply outlets, and tailors that had been established off campus. Aggieland Pharmacy or Lipscomb's Pharmacy provided medical supplies while groceries were purchased at Luke's Campus Grocery or Charlie's Food Market. Municipal Life Municipal life began in 1938 with the official incorporation of the City of College Station. This move was necessitated, in part, by the City of Bryan's annexation encroachment just north of the A&M campus. Among other things, incorporation brought improved public health and sanitation with the construction of sewage disposal facilities and improved transportation with municipal regulations in off-campus areas and a street building and repair program. A local government could also address concerns such as fire safety and police protection. The first council meeting was held on February 25, 1939 with John H. Binney presiding as the first mayor. 1940 Transportation Gibb Gilchrist's establishment of a Department of Aeronautical Engineering at the A&M College of Texas in 1937 led to the development of the college's airport. In 1941, the airport was renamed in honor of Jesse E. Easterwood ('09), who was killed in a flying accident in the Canal Zone in 1919. Residential Just prior to World War II, the College Park area was expanded to the west toward Wellborn Road and the railroad tracks. Several of the original campus houses were relocated in this area known as West Park, and others were moved to the Northgate area. Additionally, the area continued to grow as several other houses were constructed from 1940 and 1941. Education The elementary school and high school were relocated to a site off the college campus. A suitable campus was purchased east of the Oakwood residential area. All of the necessary buildings were constructed on the new site, and the school moved into them in January of 1940. Today, this site is home to the College Station Conference Center, and the original shop building remains as the Conference Center Annex. The first high school for African American students opened its doors in 1941. Lincoln School, originally known as A&M Consolidated Negro School, was constructed at the southwestern limits of College Station at what is now Eleanor and Holleman Streets. The complex consisted of a building containing six classrooms, a principal's office, and a homemaking cottage. Lincoln School became a social center for College Station's African American community, even serving as a meeting place for the College Station Church of Christ. The A&M Consolidated High School was relocated again in 1949. A new high school was constructed west of the existing school buildings. The high school also served as the City's first library. Religion The A&M Presbyterian Church continued to hold its services in the YMCA building on campus until 1941 when a wooden frame church was relocated from nearby Fort Walters to the Northgate area. Commerce Because of limited transportation, residents of College Station continued to patronize neighborhood stores. Northgate remained the primary business center and grew with new additions such as a theater, hardware store, dentist office, and Methodist church. On May 1, 1946, the City of College Station saw the arrival of its first bank, the College Station Bank. One hundred five citizens petitioned for and received a charter from the State Banking Commission. The bank was housed in a small, two-room wooden building in Northgate. The title of the bank eventually changed to University National Bank. Municipal Life Frank Anderson began his term as mayor on April 2, 1940 after Mayor Binney was killed in an automobile accident. After one term, Ernest Langford, an architecture professor at Texas A&M College, was elected mayor. This began his twenty-four year stay in the mayor's office. By the beginning of World War II, the southern city limits of the City of College Station ran roughly along Park Place Street to the east and a county road to the west. The county road is part of what is now known as Holleman Drive. There was, of course, very little change or construction during the four years of World War II. The first city park, originally named Dexter Park but later renamed Brison Park, was established in 1947 on land purchased from F.B. Clark and Hershel Burgess. College Station residents nicknamed the park "Billy Goat Park." In December 1947, the City of College Station constructed its first city hall. Architecture students under the guidance of Mayor Langford designed the modern, one-story structure. Located in the Northgate area across Wellborn Highway and adjacent to the railroad tracks, it became the center for community activities. February 1948 brought the establishment of the first city cemetery. The College Station City Cemetery was established on a tract of land two miles south of the college, and it included the four-acre cemetery deeded to the Methodist Church in 1870 for use by Shiloh residents. 1950 Education The first discussions of integration of the A&M Consolidated School District began in June 1956. No permanent plans were made at this time. Religion Although the A&M United Methodist Church had much earlier beginnings, the permanent Gothic sanctuary seen today was not constructed in Northgate until 1951. The congregation and students of the Lutheran Church continued to meet in the YMCA building on the Texas A&M Campus until 1948, which brought the dedication of the Lutheran Student Center. Groundbreaking for the present church building of Our Savior's Lutheran Church, designed by Ernest Langford and Frank Lawyer, was held in January 1954. The church is located at Cross and Tauber Streets in the Northgate area. The original St. Mary's Chapel for Catholic Aggies was replaced in 1958 with the masonry sanctuary seen today. Municipal Life The 1950 census estimated the population of College Station to be 7,268. The City of College Station held a special election to adopt its own charter in January 1952. Important privileges acquired in the newly adopted charter included more control over the city's annexation process and new methods of direct citizen participation in municipal government. Greater control over annexation processes allowed the City to compete with nearby Bryan's rate of annexation. Community Life Mr. William A. Tarrow helped organize and served as the president of the Community House, which served many purposes within the community including the first kindergarten for African American children, a social services organization, a senior center, a Girls' Club, and a church. The wooden frame building was constructed in 1953 on Holleman Drive near the Lincoln School. 1960 Education College Hills Elementary and South Knoll Elementary were constructed. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People requested the immediate integration of College Station Schools, and a plan for integration was finally established in the early 1960's. Lincoln School, the African-American school, burned in 1966. Ten classrooms, the library, the principal's office, and all of the school records were lost in the blaze, which was intentionally set to force integration. At the conclusion of the academic year, the doors of Lincoln School were officially closed. Not only did the public school system experience change through integration, but the Texas A&M system also saw great changes during the 1960's. Integration, the acceptance of females, the official name change to Texas A&M University brought a new era for the campus. Commerce The City of College Station began to encourage commercial development and the establishment of light industry. Commercial growth, such as a shopping center at Redmond Terrace, was seen in various sections of the city. Additionally, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the Ramada in 1962. Municipal Life The population of the city grew from 11,396 to 17,676 during the 1960's. D.A. "Andy" Anderson was elected mayor in 1966, drawing the era of Mayor Langford to a close. The remainder of the Lincoln School complex was leased to the City for recreational purposes. The property adjacent to the school was acquired for an all-purpose sports field. By the early 1970's, the center had become a full-time recreational program for College Station residents. 1970 Transportation In order to alleviate traffic problems on Highway 6 (Texas Avenue), which had grown to be primary commercial route between Bryan and College Station, the east by-pass was constructed in the 1970's. Southwest Parkway, Holleman Drive, Harvey Road, and University Drive were extended to the new by-pass. FM2818 (Harvey Mitchell Parkway) was also constructed. Residential The number of apartment complexes increased dramatically, especially along Harvey Road, to accommodate the growing student population. Residential developments continued to grow. Subdivisions such as Emerald Forest, Foxfire, and Woodcreek were established in South College Station. Education The high school was moved to its present location. Commerce By 1975, student enrollment at Texas A&M had more than doubled from 9,521 to 25,247. This tremendous influx of students presented growth challenges for the City. In particular, it encouraged the development of research facilities, provided jobs, and prompted the movement of major business activity out downtown Bryan and toward the university. The number of apartment units rose from 100 to 2,900 in just ten years. Municipal Life A new City Hall Complex, designed by Charles R. Watson, was constructed across from Texas A&M University along Highway 6. The dedication of City Hall and the city's first Police/Fire Station took place on March 21, 1970. Although the Zoning Commission was created in July 1939, the first comprehensive plan for development to direct the growth of the City was devised in the early 1970's. James B. "Dick" Hervey, the fifth mayor of College Station, was elected on August 17, 1971. In October 1974, College Station's first swimming pool, later renamed Adamson Municipal Pool, opened in Bee Creek Park. 1980 Commerce Post Oak Mall, intended to transform College Station into a regional shopping center, was established near the East Bypass and Highway 30. The mall began with four major stores and more than one hundred smaller shops. Municipal Life By December 1981, College Station had established its independence from neighboring Bryan with the establishment of its independent water supply and other utility system improvements. Two wells and other extensive facilities were added to a well constructed in 1976 to complete the system. The City of College Station acquired the Old A&M Consolidated High School, constructed in 1949. After renovations and additions, it was reopened in June 1982 as the new City of College Station Civic Center. The City established its largest municipal park, Central Park, in August 1982 with tennis courts, picnic areas, playground facilities, nature trails, and a group pavilion. The park also became the home to the "World Headquarters" of the College Station Department of Recreation and Parks. The City Hall Annex was another building project undertaken by the City of College Station. The Annex, designed to be compatible with the City Hall constructed in 1970, was completed in 1984.